The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-01-06

banks and bold juts of rock were copied
in the river, so rufleless did it seem to
lie even when the strong current was
moving. A blue heron stood at the
water edge meditating, with n foot
planted on sand and the other tucked
up invisibly. 1t slightly spread its
mighty wings, shook them, and folded
them again to place, without appearing
to break the trance of its downward
stare. When the White Dove churned
along, shadows stretched upon the
Wabash. Now it was very late after
noon, and now it threatened to be even
ing, with a hint that by and by it would
be night, when you might expect the
woods to make deep black borders
along the river, and the canopy of stars
to look smeared by the little steamers
smoke-stack.
When Beetrus was pale and tired she
turned and leaned against her mother
an ample, indulgent woman, who
nevertheless had one bristling mole
upon the right side of her face. She
broke the tacit silence in which they
had begun their journey by declaring:
''Ma, 1 love you"
"You don't often put a body out tell
ing them that responded Mrs. Jen-
kins, uttering a gratified laugh.
..Ikeep up a dreadful loving, though"
said Beetrus, casting sidewise at the
river black eyes which swan in waters
of their own.
you're my baby" said her mother,
patting the slim hand fondling her
neck. There's plenty of pretty young
men in the world, but there's only one
old mother"
II don't caro- any thing about the
young men," said Beetrus, with strong
scorn. 81 was thinking a good while
in the woods to-day, coming from the
post-office, and I've made up my mind
never to get married"
you'll turn around often enough
before the time comes"
81 never WILL" emphasized Beetrus,
"Wem be two nice old ladies together,
ma, and neither of us will get married.
81 won't, for a sure thing" laughed
her mother. '.But you'll only be mid.
dle-aged when I'm ready to totter."
Eyes, that's So" said Beetrus, sadly,
'And then if one would die and leave
the other"
"Now, now, don't you fret, lovey,
I've had considerable trouble and ex'
perience, and if 1 don't sigh round, you
needn't. Who's that nice-looking mar
hat keeps looking back this way?"
Beetrus had been facing down river
with her mind completely closed to any
moving figures on deck. She looked
back over her shoulder.
"Why, it's''-she exclaimed, swal.
lowing her breath with a gasp-'it's
Mr.. Poundstone."
chat correspondent of yours?" sale
Mrs. jenkins, nodding her head, ant
inspecting him sincerely with sucl
thoroughness as intervening barrels
permitted.
Beetrus' ears rang. She had, how
ever, hat instructive Western courag,
which sometimes takes the place of dis
ciplined self-control; so by 10 other clev
than the deepening fire of her cheek
and eyes did she give MI. Poundston
any knowledge of the disturbance h
brought her when he climbed a passag
over impediments and placed himsel
in the party. His manner was subdued
even becomingly humble and concili
atOry.
s.Ma, this is Mr.. Poundstone," SAT-
Beetrus, secretly triumphant in beini
free from the subservience which yes
terday would have made her say: "Ml
Poundstone, this is my mother"
She did not add to her unconsidere
formula now, but allowed him to lii
his hat and bow over her mother
hand.
I'm glad to meet you, Mrs. Jenl
ins," said he. Il want to make friend
with you, and get you to convince you
daughter I'm not such a bad fellow as
look"
"You don't look like a bad fellow,
she responded, heartily.
81 didn't know you were going up o
the boat" said Beetrus, regarding wit
gentle indifference the brim of his ha
after he replaced it.
"You know 1 couldn't go off on tt
train and leave matters in the shaI
they are. l never sold a bill of goot
in New Harmony in my life. but II
going to try to make a satisfaction
trade for myself now, if the house turf
me off for it."
Beetrus parted her lips, smiling, al
this time met him in the eyes. Witho'
formulating the fact, she knew the
was sterling man under the crust
acquired coarseness. The brutal pla
he had formed concerning her, al
which he was now scarcely willing
acknowledge to himself, began to wit
draw from betwixt them like the mi
which already wavered on the hills.
81 believe it will be a clear day t
morrow" said the girl, falling BAT
upon good commonplace.
: "Do you believe it will be a clear d;
: tomorrow, Mrs. Jenkins?" inquir,
: Poundstone.
'.Well, it seems like it might
t pretty" responded the widow, turnil
4, up her face to see the pinkness reflect
D from the west.
I ..Then 1 believe it will, too" said t
commercial traveller, with a devo
air, which was unmoved by Beetru'
: laughing out:
+ "a great deal prettier and clear
Il than to-day has been."-M H.. Cath,
wood, in Harper's Bazaar.
> Clearing the Table.
Gather up the fragments that nothi
,,,N In Lost TT rn,, Yso a or-un,h fr